It's not always so common

Latest answer — September 25, 2026

53 Down

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Clue explained

“Common sense” is not always common, because practical judgment is not shared by everyone. The clue supplies the word that follows “common.”

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A simple illustration representing practical common sense.

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Friday, September 25, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1What a lot of board game boards are
  2. 5Unalterable destiny
  3. 9Words on a state seal
  4. 14Italian menu preposition
  5. 15___ predator (top of the food chain)
  6. 16Committee head
  7. 17Surplus
  8. 18Sported
  9. 19September 25th and July 1st, e.g.
  10. 20Fancier name for a movie
  11. 23"Like . . . now!"
  12. 24Devours quickly
  13. 27Online annoyances
  14. 29Himalayan beast
  15. 30Pepa Madrigal, to Mirabel, in "Encanto"
  16. 31Church bell sound
  17. 34Long way off
  18. 36Bunches
  19. 37Short description of someone
  20. 40It's often wound up
  21. 41Accessory for Kenny G
  22. 42Word after "corned beef" and before "brown"
  23. 43Whichever
  24. 44"___ All That" (2021 gender-swapped film)
  25. 45Ariel's home
  26. 47Builds up anticipation for, like a new movie
  27. 49Curly-tailed Japanese dogs
  28. 54Doppelganger
  29. 58Members of the Holy See
  30. 60Person with a huge following
  31. 61Bit of PR finesse
  32. 62Knuckle or knee
  33. 63Trellis-climbing plant
  34. 64Flotsam and Jetsam, for two
  35. 65Casts off
  36. 66Dedicated verses
  37. 67Genealogy chart

Down

  1. 1Lava, once
  2. 2Divvy up
  3. 3Mickey Mouse's pet dog
  4. 4Glossy fabric
  5. 5___ over (flattered excessively)
  6. 6Per person
  7. 7"Desperate Housewives" star Hatcher
  8. 8CEO, e.g.
  9. 9Scrooge ___ (cartoon character who dives into his gold coins)
  10. 10"Schitt's Creek" actress Catherine
  11. 11Alternative to fries
  12. 12Part of a formal dress code
  13. 13Surgical areas (Abbr.)
  14. 21Central Florida city
  15. 22Russian rulers of old
  16. 25Fictional lawyer Atticus
  17. 26Broad band?
  18. 28Totally fulfills
  19. 29Places to play catch
  20. 31Device that can be put on "Do Not Disturb" mode
  21. 32"It's a cinch!"
  22. 33Is for more than one person?
  23. 35ATM charge
  24. 36Mad ___ Party (spinning ride)
  25. 37Exchange some small talk
  26. 38Sensodyne alternative
  27. 39Slacks color
  28. 44Some bank jobs
  29. 46NFL team with a mascot named Swoop
  30. 48Use up dough
  31. 50"Ready when you are"
  32. 51Come to a point
  33. 52Like a gymnast
  34. 53It's not always so common
  35. 55Early DVR option
  36. 56Terse confession
  37. 57Nary a one
  38. 58Bedtime attire, for short
  39. 59"Nice one!"

The answer to “It's not always so common” in the USA Today crossword is SENSE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on September 25, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 53-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“It's not always so common” answer

SENSE (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is SENSE.

What does SENSE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of SENSE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a faculty by which the body perceives an external stimulus; one of the faculties of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch
  • a feeling that something is the case
  • a sane and realistic attitude to situations and problems

When else has “It's not always so common” appeared?

USA Today reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 25, 2026 (most recent) → SENSE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “It's not always so common”?

The answer is SENSE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on September 25, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “It's not always so common”?

5 letters: SENSE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on September 25, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 53-Down.

Can “It's not always so common” have a different answer?

Yes — USA Today sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's USA Today answers?

The full grid for September 25, 2026 is on the USA Today answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

USA Today Crossword is published by USA Today; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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